Correlating sheet plastinated slices, computed tomography images and magnetic resonance images of the pelvic girdle: a teaching tool.

Sheet plastination is currently used to produce anatomical slices of different body structures, allowing one to study and teach their topography in an anatomically correct state. Correlation with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques gives more insight into their anatomy. Using two female cadaver pelvises CT and MRI were performed. One pelvis was used to prepare 2-mm-thick coronal plastinated slices according to the technique described by von Hagens. We found a good overall correlation between plastinated slices, CT and MRI images. This combined approach provides a unique anatomical insight and is a valuable addition to other teaching tools used by medical students, radiologists and anatomists.